Rail providers may decide not to increase their ticket prices by the maximum of 2.8pc, however a spokeswoman for the Rail Delivery Group said that this is "expected".

The spokeswoman said: "We won't know until January if rail providers do decide to increase the price of regulated tickets. However it is expected as this reflects increasing running costs as well as how much they are paying back to government."

When looking at how commuters may be affected in Norfolk, people travelling to London could see their annual pass rise by more than £200.

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Currently an annual standard pass from Norwich to London station costs £8,424.

However, a 2.8pc increase of £235.87 would bring this sum to near £8,660.

Looking within the county, people travelling into Norwich from market towns like Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn will also be impacted.

Currently an annual standard pass from Great Yarmouth to Norwich costs £1,852.

However if Greater Anglia decide to increase their fares in line with RPI, this will rise £51.85 to £1,903.85.

Norfolk Chambers of Commerce chief executive, Chris Sargisson, has said that although any increase in the price of doing business in Norfolk is "unhelpful", it is necessary for providing better travel links.

"The transformation in the train fleet can only make rail travel even more attractive and as passenger demand continues to grow and has done over the last 25 years we are seeing change. For example, the Norwich in 90/Ipswich in 60 services launched in May," he said. "Of course the Norfolk Chambers will continue to drive forward world-class travel infrastructure projects in the region, as well as providing outstanding and affordable travel services."

The news was not as well recieved by campaigners for NOR4NOR, which took a stand outside Norwich train station.

A spokesman for the group, which campaigns for a publicly-owned system, said: "This is another huge blow to rail passengers, making British rail fares the highest in Europe and keeping fares ahead of wage levels.At a time when the climate emergency means we should be encouraging rail travel, the privateers will be able to deter thousands of passengers from using public transport."

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